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Consumer protection organisations

Information

There are a number of statutory and voluntary consumer bodies. These bodies
are there to inform you of your rights as a consumer and to help you enforce
these rights. The following information describes the main organisations that
can advise you of your rights as a consumer. Information is included on bodies
that provide consumer services to purchasers of goods and services in Ireland
and in other EU member states. There are also a number of other regulatory and
representative bodies for specific businesses that have a role in protecting
the consumer. These are described in the relevant areas throughout the consumer
portal.

As every consumer case is different, it is useful to consult the appropriate
organisation that may advise you on your rights and entitlements.

Rules

If you have a consumer complaint you should always begin by contacting the
supplier of the goods or the provider of the service first. Often, issues can
be easily remedied by speaking to the retailer or the proprietor. If they
cannot or will not help even after you have put your complaint in writing, you
can contact the relevant body for information. Depending on the value of the
goods or service, you may eventually need to consider going to Courts (Small Claims
Court) or to arbitration
or mediation to seek a remedy.

In advance of taking any action you should ensure that you have the correct
information. Any of the bodies listed in this section will advise you on your
rights and what steps to take to claim redress.

Different consumer bodies have different responsibilities when it comes to
consumer rights. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)
which replaced the National Consumer Agency, for example, deals with consumer
complaints and policy at a national level. The European Consumer Centre (ECC)
Ireland deals with consumer complaints in a cross border context. The
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has responsibility to provide
consumer information on financial services.The Central
Bank of Ireland is responsible for the regulation of all financial services
firms.

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

Under the Competition
and Consumer Protection Act 2014, on 31 October the National Consumer
Agency and the Competition Authority were replaced by the Competition and
Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC). The Commission took over the functions
of the two agencies and is responsible for delivering an integrated set of
services to the consumer including:

Advocacy

Information

Enforcement

Education and Awareness

Research

Rates

Consumer organisations do not charge for providing advice.

How to apply

You can contact any of the organisations listed below by telephone, e-mail,
or by letter. You should check whether you could visit them at their offices
before you make the trip to see them. You can also check information on their
website before contacting them.

Where to apply

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is a statutory body, set
up to be a advocate on behalf of consumers. It also has a leading role in
consumer information, research, education and awareness.

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

Consumers Association of Ireland

The Consumers’ Association of Ireland is a voluntary body which aims to
inform, represent and protect Irish consumers. It provides an advice and
information service for consumers. The Consumers' Association also campaigns
for improved consumer legislation.

Consumers' Association of Ireland

The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland

The Advertising Standards Authority This is a voluntary self-regulatory body
of advertising practitioners, which deals with complaints about standards of
advertising. There are voluntary codes of standards and you may complain about
breaches of those standards. These codes are on Advertising Standards and on
Sales Promotion Practice.

Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland

The Central Bank of Ireland

The Central Bank of Ireland is responsible for the regulation of all
financial services firms in Ireland since October 2010. The Central Bank has
specific functions in relation to consumer protection and consumer rights. It
supervises financial firms to make sure that they comply with legislation and
codes of conduct. The authority ensures financial institutions are solvent
which gives consumers confidence that their deposits and investments are
secure.

European Consumer Organisations

European Consumer Centre (ECC)

ECC Ireland provides a free information and advice service on consumer
rights in the EU. It is part of an EU wide network of consumer centres and it
can help you to solve consumer disputes arising in other member states of the
EU. It does this by trying to solve the dispute directly and, if this fails, by
referring your case to an Alternative Dispute Resolution organisation in the
other member state. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the
European Commission jointly finances the Centre.

ECC Ireland

Language

Related Documents

Consumer complaintsThe Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is an independent body established by law to protect the rights of consumers. Find out about consumer complaints procedures.

Alternative dispute resolution in IrelandYou may be able to resolve a dispute that you have with a company in Ireland using alternative dispute resolution. This document describes what alternative dispute resolution is and how it might be useful to Irish consumers.

How to make a consumer complaintBuying goods or services in Ireland provides certain rights under Irish consumer legislation. Tips on how to complain effectively.

Contact Us

If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.